Jump to content

Bellvale, New York: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 41°15′02″N 74°18′39″W / 41.25056°N 74.31083°W / 41.25056; -74.31083
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
JJMC89 bot (talk | contribs)
Bots
1,152,661 edits
Migrate {{Infobox settlement}} coordinates parameters to {{Coord}}, see Wikipedia:Coordinates in infoboxes
Rescuing 3 sources and tagging 0 as dead. #IABot (v1.4.2)
Line 66: Line 66:
|footnotes =
|footnotes =
}}
}}
'''Bellvale''' is a wooded [[Hamlet (New York)|hamlet]] in the town of [[Warwick, New York|Warwick]] in [[Orange County, New York|Orange County]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[United States]]. Situated in the morning shadow of [[Bellvale Mountain]] along [[New York State Route 17A]], Bellvale was the site of an [[iron]] [[forge]] destroyed by [[British Army]] soldiers in 1750; many of its homes and other structures date from before American independence.<ref name="Old Bellvale">{{cite web|url=http://www.bellvale.net/old_bellvale.html|title=Old Bellvale|last=Burt|first=Thomas|author2=Ford, F. |author3=Roecker, F. |work=Bellvale School Home Page|publisher=Femi Roecker|accessdate=February 19, 2011}}</ref> While close to New York City, its location in the Warwick Valley has prevented suburban development.
'''Bellvale''' is a wooded [[Hamlet (New York)|hamlet]] in the town of [[Warwick, New York|Warwick]] in [[Orange County, New York|Orange County]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[United States]]. Situated in the morning shadow of [[Bellvale Mountain]] along [[New York State Route 17A]], Bellvale was the site of an [[iron]] [[forge]] destroyed by [[British Army]] soldiers in 1750; many of its homes and other structures date from before American independence.<ref name="Old Bellvale">{{cite web|url=http://www.bellvale.net/old_bellvale.html|title=Old Bellvale|last=Burt|first=Thomas|author2=Ford, F.|author3=Roecker, F.|work=Bellvale School Home Page|publisher=Femi Roecker|accessdate=February 19, 2011|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723024242/http://www.bellvale.net/old_bellvale.html|archivedate=July 23, 2011|df=}}</ref> While close to New York City, its location in the Warwick Valley has prevented suburban development.


==History==
==History==
Line 79: Line 79:
Bellvale is bisected by New York State Route 17A, though one of its older streets, Pumpkin Hill Road, lies along the path of the historic Tuxedo to Warwick road, improved by [[Continental Army]] [[United States Army Corps of Engineers#Early history|engineers]] in 1779.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} Wooden bridges were constructed across Long House creek for the Tuxedo road and on Iron Forge Road, both later replaced by stone arch bridges, now modern concrete structures. Cascade Road begins at NY17A and follows the creek's cascade south for much of its course upwards towards its sources along the ridgetop lakes and marshes of the Bearfort Ridge; the Cascade Park community lies hidden in these mountains along this road.
Bellvale is bisected by New York State Route 17A, though one of its older streets, Pumpkin Hill Road, lies along the path of the historic Tuxedo to Warwick road, improved by [[Continental Army]] [[United States Army Corps of Engineers#Early history|engineers]] in 1779.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} Wooden bridges were constructed across Long House creek for the Tuxedo road and on Iron Forge Road, both later replaced by stone arch bridges, now modern concrete structures. Cascade Road begins at NY17A and follows the creek's cascade south for much of its course upwards towards its sources along the ridgetop lakes and marshes of the Bearfort Ridge; the Cascade Park community lies hidden in these mountains along this road.


Eastward of Bellvale Route 17A's roadway rises steeply, passing an active ski resort below the summit of the steep and ancient ridge.<ref name="MtPeterSki">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtpeter.com/about.htm|title=Mount Peter - About Us|work=Mount Peter website|accessdate=February 19, 2011}}</ref> [[Bellvale Sandstone|Bellvale flags]], [[Middle Devonian]] layers of [[sandstone]] were first identified by [[Nelson Horatio Darton|N.H. Darton]] in 1894 in this area.<ref name="FlagsUSGS">{{cite web|url=http://tin.er.usgs.gov/geology/state/sgmc-unit.php?unit=NJDbv;6|title=Bellvale Sandstone|date=February 8, 2011|work=Mineral Resources On-Line Spatial Data by State|publisher=United States Geological Survey|accessdate=February 19, 2011}}</ref><ref name="NYSP1902">{{cite book|title=Report of the State Paleontologist|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OboWAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA149|accessdate=March 6, 2011|volume=54|year=1902|publisher=New York State Museum, University of the State of New York. Board of Regents|page=r149}}</ref> A hawkwatch tower crowns the peak of [[Mount Peter (New York)|Mount Peter]]<ref name="Drennan473">{{cite book|last=Drennan|first=Susan Roney|title=Where to find birds in New York State: the top 500 sites|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DhJSb-wFLPIC&pg=PA473|accessdate=February 19, 2011|year=1981|publisher=Syracuse University Press|location=Syracuse, New York|page=473}}</ref> and the [[Appalachian Trail]] crosses the highway on the east face of Bellvale Mountain to the south and Bearfort Mountain to the north.<ref name="Hikes265"/> A local dairy in the valley below provides the milk for an ice cream parlor serving passing AT hikers and motorists.<ref name="Creamery">{{cite web|url=http://bellvalefarms.com/creamery.html|title=Bellvale Farms Creamery|work=Bellvale Farms website|accessdate=February 19, 2011}}</ref> After crossing the ridgeline NY17A descends toward the village of [[Greenwood Lake, New York|Greenwood Lake]], where it turns eastward again toward [[Sterling Forest, New York|Sterling Forest]].
Eastward of Bellvale Route 17A's roadway rises steeply, passing an active ski resort below the summit of the steep and ancient ridge.<ref name="MtPeterSki">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtpeter.com/about.htm|title=Mount Peter - About Us|work=Mount Peter website|accessdate=February 19, 2011}}</ref> [[Bellvale Sandstone|Bellvale flags]], [[Middle Devonian]] layers of [[sandstone]] were first identified by [[Nelson Horatio Darton|N.H. Darton]] in 1894 in this area.<ref name="FlagsUSGS">{{cite web|url=http://tin.er.usgs.gov/geology/state/sgmc-unit.php?unit=NJDbv;6|title=Bellvale Sandstone|date=February 8, 2011|work=Mineral Resources On-Line Spatial Data by State|publisher=United States Geological Survey|accessdate=February 19, 2011}}</ref><ref name="NYSP1902">{{cite book|title=Report of the State Paleontologist|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OboWAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA149|accessdate=March 6, 2011|volume=54|year=1902|publisher=New York State Museum, University of the State of New York. Board of Regents|page=r149}}</ref> A hawkwatch tower crowns the peak of [[Mount Peter (New York)|Mount Peter]]<ref name="Drennan473">{{cite book|last=Drennan|first=Susan Roney|title=Where to find birds in New York State: the top 500 sites|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DhJSb-wFLPIC&pg=PA473|accessdate=February 19, 2011|year=1981|publisher=Syracuse University Press|location=Syracuse, New York|page=473}}</ref> and the [[Appalachian Trail]] crosses the highway on the east face of Bellvale Mountain to the south and Bearfort Mountain to the north.<ref name="Hikes265"/> A local dairy in the valley below provides the milk for an ice cream parlor serving passing AT hikers and motorists.<ref name="Creamery">{{cite web|url=http://bellvalefarms.com/creamery.html|title=Bellvale Farms Creamery|work=Bellvale Farms website|accessdate=February 19, 2011|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707222903/http://bellvalefarms.com/creamery.html|archivedate=July 7, 2011|df=}}</ref> After crossing the ridgeline NY17A descends toward the village of [[Greenwood Lake, New York|Greenwood Lake]], where it turns eastward again toward [[Sterling Forest, New York|Sterling Forest]].


Northward, Lower Wisner Road, named from a prominent early valley family, forks left at the location of Crawley's destroyed mill; Iron Forge Road passes Iron Forge Inn, a restaurant based in a 1760-built grist mill<ref name="IFInn">{{cite web|url=http://ironforgeinn.homestead.com/Aboutus.html|title=About Us|last=Johansen|first=Erik|work=Iron Forge Inn website|accessdate=February 19, 2011|location=Bellvale, New York}}</ref> and the Bellvale United Methodist Church, the location of which has served Bellvale residents as a church home for over since 1853.<ref name="BUMCAbout">{{cite web|url=http://www.gbgm-umc.org/bellvale/history.html|title=Bellvale United Methodist Church History|year=2010|work=United Methodist Church website|publisher=General Board of Global Ministries|accessdate=February 19, 2011}}</ref> Westward, NY17A rises and falls on foothill ridges of nearby [[Mount Warwick (New York)|Mount Warwick]], passing historic homes and apple orchards before entering the [[Warwick (village), New York|Village of Warwick]].
Northward, Lower Wisner Road, named from a prominent early valley family, forks left at the location of Crawley's destroyed mill; Iron Forge Road passes Iron Forge Inn, a restaurant based in a 1760-built grist mill<ref name="IFInn">{{cite web|url=http://ironforgeinn.homestead.com/Aboutus.html|title=About Us|last=Johansen|first=Erik|work=Iron Forge Inn website|accessdate=February 19, 2011|location=Bellvale, New York}}</ref> and the Bellvale United Methodist Church, the location of which has served Bellvale residents as a church home for over since 1853.<ref name="BUMCAbout">{{cite web|url=http://www.gbgm-umc.org/bellvale/history.html|title=Bellvale United Methodist Church History|year=2010|work=United Methodist Church website|publisher=General Board of Global Ministries|accessdate=February 19, 2011|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726075818/http://www.gbgm-umc.org/bellvale/history.html|archivedate=July 26, 2011|df=}}</ref> Westward, NY17A rises and falls on foothill ridges of nearby [[Mount Warwick (New York)|Mount Warwick]], passing historic homes and apple orchards before entering the [[Warwick (village), New York|Village of Warwick]].


===Climate===
===Climate===

Revision as of 15:40, 17 July 2017

Bellvale, New York
hamlet
Bellvale, New York is located in New York
Bellvale, New York
Bellvale, New York
Location of Bellvale in New York
Coordinates: 41°15′02″N 74°18′39″W / 41.25056°N 74.31083°W / 41.25056; -74.31083
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountyOrange
TownWarwick
Elevation
[1]
640 ft (200 m)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
10912
Area code845
GNIS feature ID942435[1]
Early nameWawayanda

Bellvale is a wooded hamlet in the town of Warwick in Orange County, New York, United States. Situated in the morning shadow of Bellvale Mountain along New York State Route 17A, Bellvale was the site of an iron forge destroyed by British Army soldiers in 1750; many of its homes and other structures date from before American independence.[2] While close to New York City, its location in the Warwick Valley has prevented suburban development.

History

Leni Lenape of the "wolf" clan known as Munsees occupied the Warwick Valley before the first Dutch trappers appeared on the Hudson River. Munsees lived in long houses made of sapling staves and layers of collected bark; they raised crops using the Three Sisters form of companion planting and utilized the tall-growth forests and streams for hunting and fishing.[3] The Munsees of the area lived in a long house by the creek they called Wawayanda.

Part of a land patent granted by Queen Anne in 1703, Bellvale was called Wawayanda (the name of the patent) in colonial times.[4] Settlers were drawn to the area because of the abundant timber, game and water power readily available from Long House Creek, allowing the operation of water wheel-driven mills.[5] Tanneries, sawmills, gristmills and forges have been served by the fast rushing creek since Lawrence Scrauley first built his trip hammer plating and slitting mill in 1745, the only such mill then operating in New York colony.[6] Scrauley hoped Bellvale's remote location would allow him to escape notice of British authorities intent on shutting down the American colonies' nascent iron-working industry. By 1750, the Iron Act was passed in London requiring Governor George Clinton to report on the plating forge.[7] The mill was later wrecked by the British, and its destruction became one of many incidents leading to the American Revolutionary War.[8]

The Iron Act was repealed in 1758, and though Scrauley didn't rebuild his forge, others built a series of water-powered mills and forges along the fast rushing creek, and by the 1775 the iron-working industries of Sterling Forest, Bellvale and Warwick were capable of creating an immense chain to block the Hudson River at West Point during the Revolution. Each link in the chain weighed 150 pounds; the entire length weighed 188 tons. During the war several gristmills were kept employed making flour and meal for local consumption and for the army's use. Sawmills turned the abundant local maples, oaks and hemlocks into usable boards, and textile mills processed woolen cloth for uniforms and blankets. By the early 1800s Bellvale was a thriving village; the new "Continental road" from Warwick to Tuxedo allowed the community's goods to reach markets closer to the Hudson River. But when the new railroads came through the Warwick valley, Bellvale's best manufacturing days were over. The valley, now cleared of tall-growth trees, became fertile farmland. Wheat and corn were planted. Then as now, apple trees were planted, but then mostly for cider production.

Geography

1875 map of Warwick, with Bellvale and Florida

Bellvale is bisected by New York State Route 17A, though one of its older streets, Pumpkin Hill Road, lies along the path of the historic Tuxedo to Warwick road, improved by Continental Army engineers in 1779.[citation needed] Wooden bridges were constructed across Long House creek for the Tuxedo road and on Iron Forge Road, both later replaced by stone arch bridges, now modern concrete structures. Cascade Road begins at NY17A and follows the creek's cascade south for much of its course upwards towards its sources along the ridgetop lakes and marshes of the Bearfort Ridge; the Cascade Park community lies hidden in these mountains along this road.

Eastward of Bellvale Route 17A's roadway rises steeply, passing an active ski resort below the summit of the steep and ancient ridge.[9] Bellvale flags, Middle Devonian layers of sandstone were first identified by N.H. Darton in 1894 in this area.[10][11] A hawkwatch tower crowns the peak of Mount Peter[12] and the Appalachian Trail crosses the highway on the east face of Bellvale Mountain to the south and Bearfort Mountain to the north.[8] A local dairy in the valley below provides the milk for an ice cream parlor serving passing AT hikers and motorists.[13] After crossing the ridgeline NY17A descends toward the village of Greenwood Lake, where it turns eastward again toward Sterling Forest.

Northward, Lower Wisner Road, named from a prominent early valley family, forks left at the location of Crawley's destroyed mill; Iron Forge Road passes Iron Forge Inn, a restaurant based in a 1760-built grist mill[14] and the Bellvale United Methodist Church, the location of which has served Bellvale residents as a church home for over since 1853.[15] Westward, NY17A rises and falls on foothill ridges of nearby Mount Warwick, passing historic homes and apple orchards before entering the Village of Warwick.

Climate

Bellvale is located in the humid subtropical climate zone (Köppen climate classification: Cfa), exhibiting four distinct seasons.[16] Its climate is typical of Mid-Atlantic U.S. areas removed from bodies of water. The hamlet is located in plant hardiness zone 6a though much surrounding Orange County varies from 6 to 7, indicating a cool temperate climate.[17] Summers are warm, spring and fall are mild, with low humidity, while winter is cool, with annual snowfall averaging 23.0 inches (58 cm).[citation needed] Average winter lows tend to be around 20 °F (−5 °C) from mid-December to mid-February. Blizzards affect Bellvale most years. The most violent nor'easters typically feature high winds, heavy rains, and occasional snow. These storms often affect large sections of the U.S. East Coast.

The highest recorded temperature was 101 °F (38 °C) in 1995, while the lowest recorded temperature was −23 °F (−31 °C) in 1994.[18]

Climate data for Bellvale, New York
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 66
(19) 		73
(23) 		85
(29) 		92
(33) 		93
(34) 		97
(36) 		101
(38) 		97
(36) 		100
(38) 		88
(31) 		78
(26) 		71
(22) 		101
(38)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 35
(2) 		39
(4) 		49
(9) 		61
(16) 		72
(22) 		80
(27) 		84
(29) 		82
(28) 		75
(24) 		64
(18) 		51
(11) 		40
(4) 		61
(16)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 18
(−8) 		19
(−7) 		28
(−2) 		38
(3) 		49
(9) 		57
(14) 		62
(17) 		61
(16) 		54
(12) 		43
(6) 		34
(1) 		24
(−4) 		41
(5)
Record low °F (°C) −23
(−31) 		−18
(−28) 		−7
(−22) 		13
(−11) 		29
(−2) 		38
(3) 		43
(6) 		41
(5) 		27
(−3) 		20
(−7) 		10
(−12) 		−21
(−29) 		−23
(−31)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.08
(78) 		2.51
(64) 		3.32
(84) 		3.96
(101) 		4.59
(117) 		4.28
(109) 		4.07
(103) 		3.84
(98) 		4.14
(105) 		3.44
(87) 		3.58
(91) 		3.19
(81) 		39.10
(993)
Source: The Weather Channel[18]

Demographics

Economy

Culture

Government

Bellvale is administered as a part of the town of Warwick. Michael Sweeton is the Warwick Town Supervisor, Marjorie Quackenbush is the Town Clerk. Floyd DeAngelo, Leonard DeBuck, Mickey Shuback and James Gerstner serve on the Town Board, Gerstner also serving as Deputy Supervisor.[19]

On the state level, Bellvale is represented in the New York State Assembly by Ann Rabbitt and in the State Senate by David Carlucci. The hamlet is served in the United States House of Representatives by Sean Patrick Maloney and in the Senate by Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.

Until recently Bellvale had been served by a post office for over 160 years. Though Congressman John Hall attempted to assist locals in preserving the postal station hosted in a general store, but the USPS abruptly removed all equipment and materials in September 2010.[20] While the hamlet retains the zip code 10912, residents now travel several miles to Greenwood Lake for postal service.

Transportation

New York State Route 17A serves Bellvale west to Warwick and east to Greenwood Lake and Tuxedo, passing through the mountainous Sterling Forest. Bellvale Lakes Road takes motorists north to Chester and Monroe. Upper and Lower Wisner roads join just before reaching King's Highway New York State Route 94. Cascade Road starts south and takes the traveler high up into an alpine valley, then loops back north toward Warwick after circling Mount Warwick. New Jersey Transit serves the stop in Bellvale with the 196 (express) and 197 (local) bus lines into Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Education

Religion

Methodist meetings were held in members' homes as early as 1809, circuit preachers visiting the valley from New Windsor. The upper floor of the schoolhouse provided meeting space for several early area Baptist, Reformed Dutch and Methodist congregations for many years and was nicknamed "The Tabernacle." The Methodist congregation resolved to build a church, the cornerstone of which was laid April 27, 1853 and finally dedicated a year later. The church was solidly constructed of timber cut locally and sawed into planks in the mill standing upstream of the new church site.[15]

The wooden building served the community for 86 years, providing the location for the Bellvale Circus, a popular summer entertainment staffed by local residents. The church suffered catastrophic fire damage in early 1940, and was demolished. The current church building began its career in Spring Glen, New York, where the congregation could no longer afford to host the church, and sold it to the Bellvale congregation for one dollar. The chapel was carefully disassembled and the building, pews, stained-glass windows and organ were lovingly reassembled on the repaired foundation.[15]

Notable People

References

  1. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bellvale, New York. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  2. ^ Burt, Thomas; Ford, F.; Roecker, F. "Old Bellvale". Bellvale School Home Page. Femi Roecker. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Native Americans in the Warwick Valley". Albert Wisner Public Library. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  4. ^ "Place Names and Historic Hamlets". Warwick Valley History. Albert Wisner Public Library. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  5. ^ "Historical Markers and Monuments of the Warwick Valley". Warwick Valley History. Albert Wisner Public Library. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  6. ^ Burt, Thomas (1907). Old Bellvale. p. 1.
  7. ^ Clinton, George (1750). "Governor Clinton's Certificate About Iron Rolling Mills, etc.". In O'Callanghan, E. B. (ed.). Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New-York. pp. 604–5.
  8. ^ a b Scherer, Glenn; Hopey, Don (1998). Hikes in the Mid-Atlantic states: Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York. Stackpole Books. p. 265. ISBN 978-0-8117-2666-5.
  9. ^ "Mount Peter - About Us". Mount Peter website. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  10. ^ "Bellvale Sandstone". Mineral Resources On-Line Spatial Data by State. United States Geological Survey. February 8, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  11. ^ Report of the State Paleontologist. Vol. 54. New York State Museum, University of the State of New York. Board of Regents. 1902. p. r149. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  12. ^ Drennan, Susan Roney (1981). Where to find birds in New York State: the top 500 sites. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press. p. 473. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  13. ^ "Bellvale Farms Creamery". Bellvale Farms website. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Johansen, Erik. "About Us". Iron Forge Inn website. Bellvale, New York. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  15. ^ a b c "Bellvale United Methodist Church History". United Methodist Church website. General Board of Global Ministries. 2010. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated". University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. April 2006. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "Hardiness Zones". Arbor Day Foundation. 2006. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Bellvale, NY". The Weather Channel Interactive, Inc. 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  19. ^ "Town Contacts". Town of Warwick website. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  20. ^ http://m.strausnews.com/articles/2010/10/01/warwick_advertiser/news/1.txt

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bellvale, New York.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bellvale,_New_York&oldid=791014916"